Sibnath Banerjee (1897-1932)

Pioneer of India’s Trade Union Movement and Freedom Fighter

Sibnath Banerjee was one of the most respected leaders of India’s labour movement and a committed nationalist who dedicated his life to the service of workers, social justice, and the nation.

Born on 11 July 1897 in the village of Brahman Rangdia, Sibnath Banerjee became a major force in India’s trade union movement and public life.

Early Life and Nationalist Awakening

Sibnath Banerjee became involved in the anti-partition movement in Bengal at the age of eight.

Later, while pursuing an M.Sc. degree at University of Calcutta, he directly joined the Non-Cooperation Movement in 1920.

In 1921, he moved to Indore to work as a school teacher, but soon left the profession to continue participating in India’s freedom struggle.

Role in Revolutionary Politics

In 1922, he became a minister in the Provisional Government of India in Afghanistan led by Raja Mahendra Pratap.

This reflected his strong commitment to India’s independence movement beyond conventional politics.

Leader of India’s Trade Union Movement

Between 1925 and 1929, Sibnath Banerjee organized workers across multiple industries, helping labourers unite and voice their demands.

After the successful Railwaymen’s Strike in 1929, he was imprisoned in Dhaka Jail and implicated in the Meerut Conspiracy Case.

His leadership in labour rights made him a prominent national figure.

Leadership in AITUC

In 1932, he was elected General Secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).

Five years later, he became President of AITUC, one of the highest positions in India’s labour movement.

Bengal Assembly and Public Service

Sibnath Banerjee was elected to the Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1937 from the labour constituency of Howrah.

He remained a member until 1952, representing workers and labour interests in public life.

Imprisonment During the Freedom Struggle

He was jailed several times during the Quit India Movement.

In total, he spent more than a decade in prison due to his active participation in the national movement and labour struggles.

Social Reform and Welfare Activities

Beyond trade union leadership, Sibnath Banerjee was deeply involved in humanitarian and social causes. He pioneered:

• Workers’ cooperatives
• Rehabilitation for leprosy patients
• Eye donation campaigns
• Social reconstruction programmes
• Education initiatives for workers

After retiring from trade union activities, he founded the Workers Education Trust.

Associations with National Leaders

His dedication earned admiration from many notable leaders, including:

• Rabindranath Tagore
• Subhas Chandra Bose
• Bidhan Chandra Roy
• Dilip Kumar Roy
• Suniti Kumar Chatterji

Politically, he was close to:

• Jayaprakash Narayan
• Acharya Narendra Dev
• Achyut Patwardhan
• Ram Manohar Lohia

Founder of Major Labour Movements

Sibnath Banerjee helped found several important organizations, including:

• Congress Socialist Party
• All India Trade Union Congress
• Hind Mazdoor Sabha

Final Years and Legacy

In 1978, he participated in the Marichjhapi Movement in South 24 Parganas for displaced refugees from Dandakaranya.

Sibnath Banerjee remained devoted to the cause of workers and the underprivileged throughout his life.

Note: Historical records indicate the stated death year in the source text may contain an error, as it lists 1932 despite later events mentioned.

Commemorative Postage Stamp

The Department of Posts issued a commemorative postage stamp to mark the birth centenary of Sibnath Banerjee and honor his lifelong service to labour rights, social reform, and India.